ShellbrookShellbrook ChronicleChronicle && SpiritwoodSpiritwood HeraldHerald VOL. 108 NO. 16 PMR #40007604 Thursday, April 16, 2020 www.shellbrookchronicle.com | www.spiritwoodherald.com Distance learning the new normal for students Students in the Light of Christ Catholic School Divi- sion (LOCCSD) were able to hit the books again starting March 30. Following the indefinite sus- pension of all pre-kindergar- ten through Grade 12 classes on March 20, the provincial government’s Education Re- sponse Planning Team (RPT) has been meeting daily to provide support for the school divisions in the province and help initiate supplemental learning opportunities. The RPT has been sending out updates and information to the school divisions for dis- persal to staff, parents, and students as well as working on an instructional framework to help school divisions develop and deliver supplemental learning opportunities. The framework acts as a guide for school divisions who are each preparing their own course of action. An education continu- ity plan was developed by LOCCSD following the RPT’s guidelines. The plan aims to encourage “strong teacher/ student/family relationships through consistent and effec- tive daily communication,” Mackenzie (Grade 2) and Phoenix (Kindergarten) hard at work on supplemental learning. says Ginelle Olson, principal of Rivier Elementary School. home with students for the and advance and are highly tion is very valuable to our through 12 will have supple- Learning can come in a va- first couple of weeks to be re- recommended by LOCCSD. students who miss their class- mentary learning oppor- riety of forms and teachers turned after the Easter Break Teachers are determining the mates, teachers, and daily tunities in language arts, and staff at Rivier Elementary and replaced with new ones. best ways to track their stu- routines,” says Olson. mathematics, science, social have been working to provide LOCCSD is working to help dent’s individual progress Pre-Kindergarten students studies, health and physical opportunities to students provide for families without and provide assessment and are being offered a holistic education, and practical and through a variety of media. all the resources necessary feedback. learning approach with the applied arts. Olson said Google Class- for online learning oppor- Virtual interaction between focus being on language, lit- Other subjects may be of- room, e-mail, text, Bloomz, tunities so the students can teachers and students is a eracy, motor skills, and social fered when possible and prac- Zoom, video, private Face- fully participate. component to Rivier’s dis- and emotional skills. tical. book pages, Facetime, See- Participation is not required tance education with Zoom For kindergarten through Olson says that staff looks Saw, private teacher websites, by students and no academic meetings and Facetime ses- Grade 9, language, literacy, forward to “re-engaging our and pencil and paper pack- penalties will come from work sions being used to hold mathematics, and numeracy students in their supplemen- ages are all ways in which done and submitted by stu- classes and provide support. are the main focuses as out- tal learning opportunities the teachers from Rivier are dents during this time. Students also like to see their lined by the RPT with other when we return to school af- communicating with their However, the opportunities friends on video chat. subjects being offered when ter the Easter Break on April students. Pencil and paper provided are aimed at help- “The connection that hap- possible and practical. The 20.” learning packages were sent ing students continue to learn pens during virtual interac- RPT outlined that Grades 10 More photos on page 6 We offer Open Monday to Friday: 9 – 6 | Saturday: 12 – 5 essential Closed Sundays & Holidays products Stay home when you can. & services Respect social distancing and stay safe! 306-883-2391 | 120 Main Street 2 Shellbrook Chronicle & Spiritwood Herald www.shellbrookchronicle.com | www.spiritwoodherald.com April 16, 2020 Big River FN meeting COVID-19 head-on As COVID-19 continues its grad- tors from outside the community clinic is working hard to care for ual spread across Saskatchewan, who just want to see their families. and protect the community in spite few communities are as prepared But Lyle Whitefish, principal of of the challenges it faces. as the Big River First Nation is to Mistahi Sipiy Elementary School, Chief among those is the chal- face the threats it poses. says the community’s security per- lenge of monitoring community Where governments of all sizes sonnel have been doing an excel- members who still need to leave were caught flat-footed and left lent job carrying out their duty. the community to pick up grocer- reacting to the pandemic, Jack “Over the past 10 years, we’ve ies and other essentials — particu- Rayne, Chief of the Big River First been training people to work secu- larly those who return to the com- Nation, says his community began rity in Fort McMurray, so we’re a munity and show signs of being introducing preparedness mea- step ahead in terms of having cer- sick. To help meet this challenge, sures “right away” when it first tified people working our gates,” he security personnel have been pro- heard about COVID-19. said. vided with a health questionnaire Starting about a month-and-a- That said, Whitefish notes that to give to anyone returning to the half ago, before any cases of the the community isn’t being funded community, and anyone show- virus had even been reported in to create these jobs and that it ing signs of illness upon return is Saskatchewan, the band a leader- could benefit from some targeted closely monitored. ship approached the elders from federal funding to make sure these Aside from this, the community the community for guidance, and positions are sustainable. also has concerns about its existing began stockpiling necessities. And, while the community’s supply of medical equipment. “We had our elders gather up our leadership is doing its best to di- “Some of the things we need traditional medicines in the com- rect those who have lost their jobs more of are face masks, rubber munity. They made so much that to resources like the Canada Emer- gloves, and those things. We don’t we had enough for our whole com- gency Response Benefit and EI, he know whether all of that is enough munity,” Chief Rayne said, noting adds that more could be done for to spread out within our commu- that this was just the first of many Big River First Nation Chief Jack Rayne is doing his part to the most vulnerable people in the nity,” Whitefish said. “If people are phases. support the community during the pandemic. Here, he and community. leaving, we could be providing that “We also sent out our local hunt- others prepare meat gathered by the community’s hunters. “We’ve opened up our schools to for them.” ers [and fishermen] to get our tra- people who are without food on a With COVID-19 measures ex- ditional foods ready and to put sure each of the 390 households in Chief Rayne said, adding that the daily basis, and we’ve been sup- pected to remain in place in the them in place. We gathered up all the community is outfitted with a local radio station has also been plying nutrition supplies to people coming weeks and months, both our traditional foods and stock- cleaning kit and given rations once among the communication tools — hot lunches, soups, sandwiches Chief Rayne and Whitefish are piled them at our band hall,” he every three weeks. used to share updates and infor- — and supplying food to our border urging community members to added. Aside from supplies to get mation. security people on a daily basis,” he stay home, and to follow guidelines Apart from stockpiling tradi- through the pandemic, the band In a time when employment is said. around physical distancing and hy- tional medicines and food, the leadership is also providing the precarious for many, the commu- As an educator, Whitefish says giene. community has ensured that all of community with the information it nity is also creating jobs. About 38 one of his main priorities during Whitefish adds that the commu- its essential services remain un- needs to combat the virus by keep- community members have been the pandemic has been to ensure nity’s leaders and healthcare work- interrupted, including 24/7 water ing the channels of communication hired to work security at the four that home schooling and online ed- ers are doing everything in their delivery and septic services, the lo- as open as possible. entrances to the community on a ucation can continue for students. power to protect to the community. cal store, and a newly established “One of the biggest things was to 24-hour basis. To this end, educational packages “We want to make sure that ev- laundromat so that community educate our community members Protecting the community’s bor- have been created and can be de- eryone’s comfortable, everybody’s members don’t have to travel to Big as well, and make sure that they’re ders, and limiting access to the livered to homes, or picked up by supported, and we want to make River or Debden. all educated about this coronavi- community, has been one of the parents along with other education sure that our people are informed It also ordered Sea-Cans to store rus. We made education packages most challenging aspects of fight- supplies. of the situation,” he said. extra food, cleaning supplies, and for all our households, and deliv- ing back against COVID-19 be- On the healthcare front, White- “With all services, it’s all hands other necessities, and is making ered packages to every household,” cause it’s meant turning away visi- fish says the staff at the local health on deck.” SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST Notice of Intention TOWN OF BIG RIVER The Village of Canwood is now taking resumes to Repeal Designation as for one full-time General Labourer summer Province of Saskatchewan student position.